#dave murray x janick gers

[thefairywithboots]

Welcome To My Blog

Hi there! ;)

Welcome to my fanfic blog. My primary places to post are AO3, Wattpad, and Dreamwidth, but I have moved a lot of my stuff over here to Tumblr because I love the community and friends I've made over here!

All of my NSFW work fics will be labelled as such. I am not responsible for any minors who ignore the warnings and read such fics anyway.

Requests are closed

About Me

Hi there! ;) You have managed to somehow stumble upon my little corner of the internet. So welcome!

My name is Rita, and I have written fanfiction ever since I was 11 years old - by hand in spare spiral notebooks that I had - back before I even knew what fanfiction was. I’d just sit scribbling alternative endings to video games whose canonical endings had left me emotionally traumatized (Twilight Princess, Valkyrie Profile, etc.) But I didn’t start writing fanfic to post for the public to read until a full decade later.

I have always used writing as a form of escapism, to create worlds when I felt like the one I am in was too restrictive. This blog will be my safe space from the world, and I want it be just as much as an escape for others as it is for me. I want this to be a positive vibes only blog. 🌻

I am a hopeless romantic at heart, and spend a lot time trying to spread positivity, peace and love. ❤️ 🌻

My other interests include crochet (I often post pictures of clothes that I make,) painting/drawing, video games, fantasy/mythology, and most importantly music. Music is my catharsis. The reason I am alive.

I usually keep to myself in fandoms to avoid drama and fights, but am a really nice person as long as you are not an asshole, so please don’t be afraid to slide into my DMs if you want to chat.

Fic Requests

Stuff that I write:

• Fluff

•Smut

• And most importantly, angst because I love torturing my characters/muses as well as myself.

•X Reader inserts

•x OC

•FxM (fluff and smut)

• FxF (fluff and smut)

• MxM (fluff)

Stuff that I will not write:

•Obviously icky stuff (pedo/necro/rapey shit)

• Jimbert - nothing against people who write or enjoy these kinds of fics - there's actually a few fics of this ship I enjoy myself - and people can write whatever fictional scenario they want. It's just that a very small handful of people on here take things way too far insisting that this is not fantasy, and these two had very real feelings for each other. So... yeah. That shit ain't for me. So I won't be writing this ship. I'll read others' fics though, and any other MxM ship is open for requesting. :)

So... yeah. Other than that, I'm willing to write anything. So feel free to send in requests.

My Fanfic Library

Iron Maiden

Dave Murray x Janick Gers

Fates Warning (Book 1 of Into Darkness) a Dave x Janick fic that follows their relationship throughout the 1990s.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Led Zeppelin

Robert Plant x Reader

Your Most Sacred Place (Smut)

Submissive Robert (Smut)

Aftercare (Smut)

Fire At Midnight

A Little Deal (Smut)

Way Down Inside (Smut)

Who’s In Charge (Smut)

Daddy, I Just Can’t Wait (Smut)

Far Too Long (Smut)

If You Wake Up With The Sunrise

Just Pretend

Robert and Evanna (OC ship)

Depollute Me, Gentle Angel

Steal Away Now (Smut)

I'm Gonna Put You Down For A While (Smut)

I'm Gonna Crawl (Smut)

Song Fics

Tea For One

Crack Fics

What Is And What Should Never Be

Legend of Zelda

Link x Malon

Welcome Home (Smut)

Recommended Blogs

@bijouxcarys writes incredible Robert Plant fics, is such a prolific writer, and is also the sweetest person ever. So check her out. ⚔️🌈

@firethatgrewsolow @brownskinsugarplum76 and @nature-and-music have also written some of my favourite Robert fics, and just overall extremely talented writers who inspire me to get better at my own. So please check them out. 🌻

[saintjezebel483]

Bruce Dickinson it's my weakness🔥

“His eyes so penetrating... his smile so mischievous and seductive... his long brown hair falling over his wet chest while I was riddled with passion and pleasure for him... only for him, for the beast”

[metalsongoftheday]

Friday, August 4: Iron Maiden, "Judgement Day"

Iron Maiden spent the better part of a year writing and recording The X Factor, putting upward of 16 or so originals and covers to tape before settling on the 11 that made the album proper.  “Judgement Day” was one of the tracks left off the record, perhaps because it bore some similarity to the other Bayley/Gers composition “Man on the Edge”, which became the album’s first single.  But it, along with the other two originals subsequently released as B-sides, had much more energy and life than most of the songs that made the frequently turgid X Factor: the track was loud, clattery and a little unfocused, but the entire band- especially Blaze Bayley- sounded engaged and energized, and attacked the tune in a way that obscured the terrible production.  “Judgement Day” was an actual high octane metal banger that would’ve painted this iteration of Maiden in a much better light had it been placed on the album to balance out the slower numbers.  Of course, there was no getting around the mess that was Steve Harris’ production, and the dueling caterwauling solos were likewise sloppy and were completely counter to Maiden’s usual approach.  But nonetheless, “Judgement Day” stood out as a lively tune that painted the Blaze Bayley era in a much better light and with a touch more thought (and much better production) could’ve been a gem.

[mitjalovse]

The 90's could be seen as one of the last periods that let rock be one of the most dominant forms of popular music. Still, not all prospered. Iron Maiden, for instance, sucked back then. Sure, they did release one of their strongest albums, but they had to replace Bruce Dickinson with Blaze Bayley who is a fine frontman, yet he never had a chance to develop into a great one thanks to the band not being sure where they were during the 90's despite heavy metal already being a niche back then. You see, the LPs the group did with Bayley did look for those who didn't listen to the style. Sure, the return of Bruce gave them greater music, but they also retreated towards their own fanbase. Yes, the platters with Bayley – my opinion – tried to communicate outside the latter.

[jd-mp3]

put in the tags your answers because I wanna see!!

(I added the big 6 and then the other 3 were still pretty involved in the history but only for 2/3 albums so I included their start & end albums!)

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Iron Maiden

[creativewritingpracticestudio]

NSFW Alphabet-Nicko McBrain(Iron Maiden)

@smoothborescattergun-art hope you enjoy!

As always, please note that NSFW alphabets typically come out quicker than regular fics.

Permanent Taggers: @smokeandmirrorz @holyjunkie @overlyobsessedfangirl @slashevilsister @julessworldd @agroupiewhore @comawhxte666

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

The aftercare is usually pretty quick and sweet, because he’s very gentle during sex and doesn’t do anything that needs special care. If he’s tired enough, you’ll just wait to take a shower til the next morning and fall asleep right there while cuddling or spooning. If he’s got the energy and you both feel kinda gross, you’ll take a shower together and then you’ll go straight to sleep. Sometimes, you both sleep naked, sometimes not. The two of you are both almost always completely exhausted after sex, so it’s not common for you to do anything else except sleep, unless you both want to watch a movie and get takeout, or just talk for a while in bed. He always asks to make sure he did a good job and didn’t hurt you, and then tells you how great you did and how much he loves you.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Nicko really likes your smile, because it’s the prettiest thing in the world, and he also likes to see you laugh. He’s also obsessed with your hair, always playing with it and running his fingers through it and helping you rub shampoo into it in the shower and all that. One of the reasons he usually chooses to be big spoon is because your hair smells good. Nicko doesn’t really focus on his personal appearance or anything, but he’s proud of his drumming skills.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

There’s not really too much to say here; he’s got enough experience that he knows how to keep things from being messy, which is good because he’s got a pretty big load. He usually cums inside you or on your tummy, but if you’re giving him a blowjob, he’ll do it in your mouth.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Probably the only thing that could count as a dirty secret for Nicko is that he really, really likes lingerie; he loves silk and velvet and laces and bows, and his favorite colors on you are red, black, and especially pink. The best thing you could do for his birthday is buy new pieces and model all of them for him, though he also randomly buys you sets of lingerie that he sees in stores and thinks would look good on you

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Although some people don’t see him as being conventionally attractive, his good humor and happy personality got him a good amount of girls, not to mention his status as a drummer in a famous rock band, so he’s definitely got the amount of experience needed to know what he’s doing and to be good at it. Nicko knows his way with sex positions, and almost nothing the two of you have tried has ever been awkward or uncomfortable because of that fact. He can teach you new things and guide you through new experiences, without being controlling.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Probably either missionary or spooning from behind, although cowgirl is also a favorite of his. Nicko also likes to pick you up and have you against a wall or up on a countertop. Anything that’s comfortable and allows him to see your face and have his body close to yours. I’d say that reverse cowgirl and doggy style are both pretty rare, just because he’d rather see your face than just your ass, but he does like your ass, so he’ll still do those positions occasionally. The one position that he probably won’t do it bending you over furniture and taking you from behind. It just doesn’t do anything for him.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

It’s Nicko; he’s almost always got a big smile on his face, and he’s always laughing or making a joke about something. Serious sex just isn’t his thing, so he’s not the guy to go for if you’re into angry or rough sex. He’d never yell or raise his voice at you, nor would he be mean and angry and controlling during sex. Nicko’s a happy guy, and you make him feel even happier, so it only makes sense that the sex would be happy, too.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Nicko’s got a pretty average amount of hair; not too much, but he’s not hairless either. It’s a bit darker than the hair on his head, and he’s got it on his chest, although it’s light. He’ll groom it if you want, and if not, he’ll just leave it alone.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Nicko isn’t overly sappy(he doesn’t usually hold your hand or say overly romantic things to you), but he also isn’t cold or dominating or rough, either. He won’t sprinkle rose petals on the bed or anything like that, but there’s plenty of praise and encouragement and kisses and laughing and closeness during sex. He makes you feel safe and comfortable and loved, and that’s one aspect of the sex that never, ever changes.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Nicko doesn’t have a high enough sex drive to require him to masturbate; having sex with you is enough for him, and he’s just never been one for masturbating anyway. He’s just a little bit too mature for it. That’s not to say that he’s not willing to do it sometimes when he needs to; on the contrary, he’s always got a collection of pictures of you with him that he takes on tour, just for that exact reason. But again, it’s rare.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Probably the only legitimate kink that Nicko has is a praise kink, but who doesn’t like that? He loves to compliment you and say sweet things to you to make you smile, and he likes when you encourage him and tell him he’s doing a good job. He could be called a switch, since he can sometimes be submissive and other times be a little bit more dominant and in control; he’s never forceful or demanding with you, though.

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Anywhere that’s private and guarantees that no one will walk in one the two of you. This could be your house, or a backstage room, or just any place where there’s no one else around and you’re not out in the open. He prefers for things to be comfortable, though, so really anywhere that’s in the house could be his favorite place.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Really just the idea of having sex with you is all he needs to get in the mood; he doesn’t need anything like dirty talk or seducing. Nicko loves you, and thinks you’re the sexiest girl on earth, so he doesn’t need much encouragement. If you initiate it, he’ll probably be even more into it, since he likes to know that you feel the exact same way about him that he does about you.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Nicko’s definitely not a kinky guy. BDSM of any kind is out; no bondage, no daddy or master kink, no degrading, and definitely no pain play or anything painful in general. He’d never hurt you on purpose, and it doesn’t arouse him. If anything, it takes him out of the mood. He’s also not fond of ice or wax play, because it just feels weird and not sexy in any way. He also won’t share you with anyone, and he doesn’t feel comfortable with exhibitionism of any kind.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Nicko would almost always choose giving oral over receiving it, because he likes making you feel good; he feels almost guilty when you give him head, since he can’t really do anything for you while you’re doing it, but he’d never turn a blowjob down, either. Even if there isn’t time for regular sex on a certain day, Nicko is absolutely fine with just giving each other oral instead. Also, blindfolds are absolutely out; he has to be able to see you, or it just doesn’t feel good.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Nicko’s in the middle; he’s definitely not rough with you, but he’s not super sensual or anything like that. He’s not too fast or too slow, he’s just energetic and doesn’t jack-hammer you; he puts in effort and actually concentrates on you and making you feel good. Depending on the mood, he may get a little faster or a little more slow and sensual, but he’s never, ever rough.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Despite his aversion to kinks and public sex, Nicko actually likes quickies. He’s a lot busier than he wishes he was, since he’s in a world famous rock band and all, so even if he didn’t like them, he’d have to work with them anyway. As long as they’re somewhere the two of you don’t have to worry about getting caught, like a backstage room or a closet, he’s down. He’s got the experience to know how to make the 5–10 minutes count, and always ensures that you cum, even if he has to get on his knees for it. Of course, he doesn’t need sex that often, so if he’s in a situation where there’s very little time and a good chance of being caught, he won’t take the risk and will just wait until there’s time.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

There really aren’t that many risks with Nicko. He’s not a kinky guy, as we’ve established, so equipment and sex toys are out, and he’s got certain positions that he doesn’t like. He really doesn’t like sharing you or anything like that, so threesomes would most likely be out as well. I guess he’d be willing to take risks with trying new positions, but that’s really about it for him.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

He can last a very long time; rounds aren’t very common, but sex can last anywhere from an hour to two hours to even longer if he’s really feeling up to it and has the free time. If the two of you actually decide to go for rounds, it’ll be somewhere around two or three, and they’ll each be just as long and feel just as amazing. He makes sure you finish every single time.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Toys are definitely rare, if even used at all. Nicko prefers regular sex without using anything like that, and if he does decide to bring in a toy of some kind, it won’t be anything wild. It’ll be a tame, more normal toy, like maybe a dildo or a vibrator or something. Nothing weird or kinky or painful. If you absolutely want to use them, he’ll do it, but otherwise they’re usually just a no-go.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Nicko’s definitely not a tease. It’s just not part of his personality; he also doesn’t really like being teased himself. It ties in with how he isn’t into any particular kinks. He doesn’t want to do anything sexual in public or in front of other people, so teasing each other under the table won’t usually happen. He also isn’t one for dirty talk, so no teasing words are exchanged either.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Nicko’s relatively quiet, aside from occasional moans or words of praise or just general talking. He doesn’t over exaggerate anything, because he just doesn’t feel the need to. Although some people interpret this to mean that he’s not very involved in the sex or that he’s unfocused, this is far from case. In actuality, his full attention is always on you, and even though you can’t hear him, just looking at his face will tell you that he’s in a good mood and that he’s enjoying it.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Nicko’s all-time favorite things to do with you is to curl up on the couch together and watch Disney movies. Yes, I know, the drummer of Iron Maiden watching Disney movies sounds weird, but he loves them and absolutely gets into them when you watch them together. He knows most of the songs by heart. He also likes to bake cookies with you so that you can eat them together while you’re watching the movie. Nicko’s favorite Disney movies are The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, The Princess and The Frog, Tangled, Frozen, and Sleeping Beauty.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Nicko’s a big guy, so it only makes sense that his dick is big, too. It’s about 7 inches long, give or take, and extremely thick. I mean, you can barely wrap your hand around the base. That thing can stretch the hell outta you, although this is also a bit of a problem because it hurts quite a bit the morning after. He always makes sure to use a lot of lube for that exact reason, because Nicko hates hurting you in any way.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

I’d say Nicko is like a 7.5/10 on the horny scale. He loves sex, and he’s always enthusiastic and happy about doing it, but he doesn’t really need it all that often, and he won’t bug you about it or complain if you don’t have it often. I’d say sex happens at least 5 out of the 7 days a week, and sexual acts of some kind(oral, fingering, etc.)are pretty common, sometimes at least once a day. It really depends on how eager you are, not him.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Sex tires him out, especially since he often goes for long periods of time, so once everything is settled and the two of you are in bed cuddling or spooning and the lights are off, he’s out like a light. Nicko’s like a teddy bear, always cuddling you with his arms around your waist and his head tucked into your neck, or yours in his. He switches between big and little spoon, but he’s usually the big spoon just cuz he’s bigger and has more body heat. He also snores just a little bit, but you don’t tell him that. He gets so tired sometimes that he starts to fall asleep in the shower when the two of you are washing off afterwards, and when this happens, you usually choose to help him dry off and then lead him to bed and let him go to sleep completely naked.

[mikeladano]

RE-REVIEW: Iron Maiden - The X Factor (1995 2 CD Japanese import)

RE-REVIEW: Iron Maiden – The X Factor (1995 2 CD Japanese import)

[bravenew-what]

Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Janick Gers - Performing in 1993

(X)

[oldschoolimagineblog]

MUSICIAN MASTERLIST

THE ROLLING STONES

  KEITH RICHARDS

1. Tour Love:

Reader is in a band that tours with The Rolling Stones and hits it off with Keith.

2. Playing Nurse:

Keith gets hurt in a party you’re attending, and calls out for you help.

  BRIAN JONES

1. How Classy:

Brian and the reader, a groupie, hook up at a party. (smut)

2. Shopping:

Brian is tired after along day of shopping with his girlfriend.

  MICK JAGGER

1. Hazey:

Getting high with him.

2. Mick w/ You:

Mick loves you, simple.

3. Grateful;

Mick is just greatful to have you.

THE BEATLES

  PAUL McCARTNEY:

1. Mornings

A sweet morning after a night with Paul.

  GEORGE HARRISON:

1. I’d Have You Any Time:

Love making, not detailed.

  RINGO STARR:

1. First Time:

Ringo takes the readers virginity.

  HEADCANNONS

Phone sex with George...

GUNS N´ ROSES

  DUFF MCKAGAN

1. Truth or Dare:

It’s the day after a party and Axl, Slash, Duff and the reader decide to play a fun game of Truth or Dare (Smut).

2. I Think I’m Falling For You: 1 - 2 - 3

i. Reader is Slash’s daughter and she and Duff fuck. (Smut)

ii. After confessing, Duff decides to leave his wife to be with reader and Slash finds out.

iii. Duff and reader go and find Slash, they explain what has happened.

3. Take Care Of You Tonight:

You go down on him and Axl walks in. (smut)

4. Movies and Wine:

You get horny and he’s there for you (smut)

  AXL ROSE

1. Morning Sex:

Sex in the early morning with Mr. Rose. (Smut)

2. Vulnerable:

Axl is overwhelmed about him being sued by Erin, causing him to lock himself in his room.

3. Best Friends:

Reader and Axl are besties and after a bad date they confess.

4. Insecurities:

Current age Axl shows his insecure girlfriend how pretty she is. (smut)

5. Stuck in quaratine (Present day Ax);

Netflix n chill situation.

IZZY STRADIN

1. Would you mind me calling you my girlfriend?:

The reader and Izzy like each other but won't admit it, so Duff decides to do something about it.

2. Smoke:

Things get interesting when reader and Izzy go out for a smoke.

3. Matters of the heart (x James Hetfield):

Reader cheats on Izzy with James.

  SLASH

1. Ten Years Ain’t Nothing:

Slash is dating reader, who is ten years younger than him, consoling her after she gets hate.

2.It Only Took Him a Song:

Reader is a musician who collabs with Slash, ending in both of them confessing.

3. Caught:

Reader gives him a handjob while watching a movie with the rest of the band at Axl’s place.(smut)

4. My Michelle:

Slash and the reader are dating, and he teaches her “My Michelle” on guitar, she then plays on stage with Guns n’ Roses, and gets drunk with Slash after the show.

5. Shower Sex:

Sex in the shower with Mr. Hudson. (Smut)

6. I’m Leaving: 1 - 2

i. Slash confessing he’s cheated.

ii. Reader makes up with Slash. (smut)

7. Late At Night:

Slash comes to your house drunk.

8. Backstage:

Reader gets horny after watching Slash onstage. (Smut.)

9. Confort:

Reader has a panic attack and he conforts her.

10. Jealousy:

Slash is jealous of Axl. (smut)

11. Gala Session:

Slash gets fingery under the table. (smut)

12. Unexpected Night:

Reader meets Slash.

STEVEN ADLER

1. Hidden: 

Reader is Slashs’ little sister and secretly dating Stevie, but Steven is feeling conflicted about not telling his bestfriend which causes some troubles in their relationship. Takes place in their teenage years.

  SLASH & AXL ROSE

1. Porn Star Moans:

Slash x Reader x Axl threesome. (smut)

  HEADCANNONS

1. Dating Steven Adler...

2. Dating current age Axl Rose...

3. Sex with Axl Rose...

4. Dating a member of Guns n Roses...

MOTLEY CRUE

  TOMMY LEE:

1. Sleepless Nights:

Reader gets horny at Tommy’s place and Tommy walks in. (Smut)

2. Dazed 1 - 2

i. Angsty Tommy meets you and feels overwhelmed (in a good way) with how you treat him.

ii. Accepting they just cant be together, drunken sex.

  NIKKI SIXX:

1. Starry Eyes:

Reader finds out Starry Eyes is about her.

2. Overdose:

Reader gets a call from Vince saying Nikki had died.

  MICK MARS

1. Tour Visit:

The Dirt) Reader visits Mick on tour, fluff, pool scene.

2. Worth Waiting for:

Mick gets nervous and babbles his love confession towards the reader.

  VINCE NEIL

1. Drunken Confessions:

Reader is Tommy’s little sister and Vince falls in love.

SKID ROW

  RACHEL BOLAN:

1. Lap Dance:

Rachel is dared to give the reader a lap dance.

  SEBASTIAN BACH:

1.Unexpected Visitor:

Baz and Rachel’s sister are secretly dating and he walks in the worst time.

2. I Promised

Scotti’s roommate and best friend is crushing on Baz, but makes a promise not to his bandmembers.

  ROB AFFUSO:

1. Pre Show Meetings:

Reader bumps into Rob right before a show.

IRON MAIDEN

  JANICK GERS:

1. In The Office:

Janik eats his girlfriend on her office. (Smut)

  DAVE MURRAY:

1. Late Night Walks:

Reader can’t sleep so they go for a night walk.

2. Beach Confessions:

Dave tells the reader how he feels about her.

3. Alone Time:

Their alone time is interrumped by the boys.

  BRUCE DICKINSON:

1. Early Years:

Teen Bruce sneaks into teen reader’s room at night.

2. Just A Few More Weeks:

He’s away on tour and calls you.

  STEVE HARRIS:

1. All About You:

Steve performes oral on you. (smut)

2. One last time:

They love each other.

THE DOORS

  JIM MORRISON:

1. The Roof:

Jim and the reader stay up until sunrise.

  RAY MANZAREK:

1. You over me:

He’s stressed and reader helps him out.

NIRVANA

  KURT COBAIN:

1. Days Like This:

Kurt and reader have a day off and decide to spend it together.

L.A GUNS

  PHIL LEWIS:

1. Philthy Phil: 1 - 2

i. Reader hooks up with Phil after meeting in a party.  (smut)

ii. They fall in love, break up, and make up.

DEF LEPPARD

  PHIL COLLEN:

1. Rainy Days Are The Best Days:

Phil asks reader to marry him.

  RICK ALLEN:

1. A Joint And A Brush:

Rick and Reader get high and paint outside.

BLACK SABBATH

  OZZY OSBOURNE:

1. The After Show:

Ozzy meets the reader after a show and they fuck, ending in a relationship. (smut)

2. So Good:

Plotless sex.

LED ZEPPELIN

  JIMMY PAGE:

1. Drunken State:

Jimmy gets home drunk and the reader takes care of him.

2. Morning Takeover:

Fluff with their son.

SEX PISTOLS

  JOHNNY ROTTEN:

1. Kisses:

Making out with him.

HEADCANNONS

1. Sex with Johnny...

BILLY IDOL

1. Welcome Home:

He comes home from tour. (smut)

MEGADETH

  DAVE MUSTAINE:

1. Field Trips:

They get dirty in a field. (smut)

HANOI ROCKS

  RAZZLE

1. Don’t you ever leave me:

Based off on the song.

METALLICA

JAMES HETFIELD

1. Matters of the heart (x Izzy Stradlin):

Reader cheats on Izzy with James.

[thefairywithboots]

The outline for The Edge of Darkness (book 2 of Into Darkness) is complete!

Now I need to do extensive research on the Virtual XI album/tour before outlining the 3rd book. I'm dreading this a little bit because the online discourse surrounding that era is sooo toxic. 🥲

[metalsongoftheday]

Friday, February 8: Iron Maiden, “Justice of the Peace”

“Justice of the Peace” wouldn’t have made The X Factor a much more enjoyable listen had it been included on Iron Maiden’s ill-fated tenth album instead of being relegated to B-side status, but it would’ve at least livened things up a bit.  The track was the one Murray/Harris number to make it out of the X Factor sessions, and stood apart from most of the other songs simply by virtue of not being so dreary.  Sure, it wasn’t exactly a lost masterpiece (Steve Harris’ lyrics were increasingly clunky and more focused on sounding like a soccer chant than making sense, and Blaze Bayley’s bellowing had little of the charm he radiated on Wolfsbane’s better material), but Dave Murray’s circular riff was fundamentally Maiden, while the 4-minute running time ensured that it wouldn’t overstay its welcome (unlike the majority of X Factor tracks, which generally had no idea when to end).  Most of all, “Justice of the Peace” moved briskly without sounding unnecessarily panicked like “Man on the Edge”, and Nicko McBrain’s drums crashed and grooved organically.  It still wouldn’t have been enough to rescue The X Factor, but the song was an inexplicably buried reminder that Maiden hadn’t actually lost their gifts.

[mitjalovse]

Those bands that have replaced their singers seem to have done this more times than one could have assumed from their careers thanks to their immense continuing successes. I mean, Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson was a frontman who succeeded Paul Di'Anno, so I'm not surprised the group decided to go with Blaze Bayley, when Mr. Dickinson left them in the 90's. They probably thought the things would go forward normally, but Mr. Bayley, a fine vocalist, is not Mr. Dickinson. To Iron Maiden's credit – they knew the fact, so they even changed their sonic modus operandi a bit, yet they did become a bit generic in the change. True, we shouldn't blame anyone here, all of them merely wished to find the best out of the situation, though they didn't locate the right mode for this.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Iron Maiden

[thefairywithboots]

Fates Warning - Chapter 10

Summary: Bruce announces to the band that he is leaving, and they hold his farewell concert. After he says goodbye to everyone and leaves, the band starts talking about packing it in. But Dave convinces them to push forward and look for another singer.

Also on AO3

When summer came around, Bruce announced to the band that he was leaving.

No one was really surprised by this announcement, but no one was particularly happy about this news (except for Nicko, who practically shouted "Good riddance!" in Bruce's face.)

Dave was furious with Bruce for treating Janick like a doormat to the point that he made him cry, but Bruce had been his friend for years, and was the best singer that the band had ever had.

Janick was upset for obvious reasons. He had loved Bruce for three years, and was the reason that he joined Maiden in the first place. Even though he was in love with Dave now, he couldn't imagine where the band might go without him.

Steve seemed to be the only person who was as upset as Janick was. Even though he was in love with Nicko, Bruce had been his best friend for over a decade. He had been frustrated with him, and had been fighting with him a lot recently, but he didn't want him to leave. He had meant so much to him.

But the reality was that Bruce's heart just was not with Maiden anymore. He claimed that he didn't blame anyone for his leaving; not Steve, not Janick. Though he looked visibly pained every time he saw Janick with Dave now. So much so, that he hardly seemed to take notice of Steve and Nicko together.

Bruce of course planned on finishing the Real Live Tour, and they would perform his farewell concert in London in August. He tried multiple times to get Janick alone, to try and talk to him, to try and apologise for the things that happened between them. But Janick pulled away each time, refusing to fall into his trap again, knowing that even if his apology was sincere, it wouldn't last long. He refused to fall for it ever again, ignoring Bruce's pleading brown eyes as he walked past him at breakfast each morning.

It wasn't until Bruce caught Janick and Dave cuddled up together when they fell asleep on the tour bus, that he realised that he fucked up, and that he had truly lost Janick forever.

He hardly talked to anyone after that, though this time it seemed to be more out of shame than spite.

August finally came around, and it was decided upon that their last concert would be collaborating as a horror show with Simon Drake, a popular horror illusionist. There would be several acts planned out, and Bruce would be cinematically "killed" at the end of the show, symbolizing the death of his era with the band.

The day before the show, however, Janick was a nervous wreck. Bruce had made him miserable for the past two years, but he couldn't stop himself from feeling torn up inside about his leaving. The idea of never getting to talk to him, or write with him, again made his heart ache. 

"Are you okay?" Dave asked him one morning while in their hotel room when he noticed how tense Janick was.

Janick nodded. Dave had been supportive of him for months now, not complaining when he woke up crying in the middle of the night, and respecting his boundaries when he said he wasn't ready to be physically intimate yet. 

"It's just... Bruce was my best friend before we..." He trailed off. "And now that he's leaving... it hurts that I'm never going to get to see him again."

Dave wrapped his arms around Janick, enveloping him in his warmth. Janick hugged him back, wanting to bask in his warmth for as long as he could.

"It's okay to feel this way, Jan," Dave said softly. "He was our friend, too. We've toured together for many years, and now he's gone and done this..." It wasn't so much the fact that he was leaving, Dave thought, but how he treated Janick, and even Steve.

Jan hugged him tighter. "Davey?" he said in a small voice.

"Hm?"

"I love you..."

Dave kissed Janick's forehead softly, and his face scrunched up as if he wanted to cry. "I love you, too, Jan..." He hugged him tighter. "More than you can know..."

~~

When the band arrived at the venue the next day, Steve was already beginning to stress how important this gig was, since it would be their last one with Bruce. Janick had a horrible feeling in his stomach because he knew this would be his last time playing with Bruce. But he had to put those personal feelings aside, and act professional.

Dave and Janick were standing by their guitar rigs when Bruce came out of his dressing room. A frown came across his face, and he looked as if he wanted to talk to Janick, but walked away instead. 

The show went surprisingly well, despite the tension between Bruce and the rest of the band. They put on their best performance for their fans, Bruce sang each song as if it would be his last time singing them.

Meanwhile, Simon performed several macabre magic acts between songs, setting an audience member on fire before using the flames to light a cigar, ripping a woman’s heart out for allegedly cheating on him with Nicko, and sawing a bound woman in half at the end of Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter. 

Dave was also dragged off of the stage right before his solo in From Here to Eternity, and his hands were sawed off, and Simon came onstage to mime his solo as Dave played the original solo backstage. 

Just as planned, Bruce was dragged off the stage after the show, and forced into an iron maiden. After the spikes appeared to run through him, Simon wiped them before opening the door that revealed his face, blood pouring out of Bruce’s mouth.

Eddie, their mascot, jumped out from behind the iron maiden, chasing Simon back to centre stage before he was seized by his own dungeon assistants, and impaled on a spike before screaming in pain, and then suddenly going still.

Afterwards, Eddie opened the door to the iron maiden, beheading Bruce, lifting his head up for the audience to see in plain sight, and sticking it onto the same spike that Simon had been impaled on, symbolizing the death of his era with the band.

~~

Janick knew that Bruce was going to want to say goodbye to everyone face-to-face before he left for the airport, and he was bracing himself for it as he waited with the rest of the band in the hotel lobby. Dave sat next to him, clutching his hand. This was probably the only thing preventing Janick from panicking. The mood between them was sombre, and they knew that this was possibly the end of the entire band. What would they do without Bruce?

When Bruce entered through the front entrance and saw them waiting in the lobby, he smiled apologetically, as if he knew that they were all angry with him. Janick did not feel angry anymore, though; he just felt hurt.

Bruce hugged Steve and Dave goodbye, skipping Nicko because he looked as if he would punch him in the face if he so much as even thought about touching him. 

Bruce waited to tell Janick goodbye last, and Janick braced himself for the large puppy dog eyes and crocodile tears, telling him how oh so very sorry he was for how he treated him for the past two and a half years.

"Goodbye, Jan," Bruce said softly before pulling him into a tight hug. Janick hugged him back because he felt obligated to.

The hug lingered longer than the others did, and Janick could feel Bruce not wanting to let him go, as if he was regretting having to leave him. All of their memories together began coming back to him, and Janick began tearing up. 

Bruce finally released him, his hands gripped the sides of his arms, and he looked at him with the large brown eyes that Janick had anticipated.

"I'm...sorry. For everything." Bruce said, his voice breaking slightly as his eyes searched Janick's.

"I forgive you," Janick whispered. The words sounded hollow, even to his own ears. His and Bruce's relationship had emotionally exhausted him, and there was no way he was ever going back. But knowing that this was truly the end for them made him feel like crying. He forgave him, simply because he did not want there to be any bitterness or resentment when he left.

"I love you, Janick."

Janick bit his tongue and averted his eyes, resisting the urge to slap Bruce across the face for such a blatant lie.

A hurt look appeared on Bruce's face when Janick didn't respond, but went back to his seat to sit next to Dave. 

Janick watched as Bruce walked out the door, out of Maiden, and out of his life. He felt as if a massive load was taken off of his chest, but at the same time, he felt as if a chunk of him had been ripped away, leaving a massive, empty hole in his heart. 

Janick didn't realise that he had been crying until Dave's warm hand came to his face, gently wiping away his tears. 

"It's okay, Jan..." he whispered softly. 

Janick silently burst into tears, crying on Dave's warm shoulder. Dave wrapped his arms around Janick, as the four of them sat in the lobby, the sombre atmosphere stronger than ever.

~~

Everyone was upset about Bruce's departure. They had lost their vocalist, and Bruce had been the voice of Maiden, one of the most recognisable aspects of the band's sound. What was the band going to do without him? What choice did they have but to pack it in?

They were hanging out at Steve's house, sitting in his living room while drinking a few beers (Dave had bought a pack at the general store. He had got sick of scotch being the only drink in Steve's fridge.) Janick sat with his head in his hands, appearing to be more distraught than anyone else. Nicko watched him, a sympathetic look on his face. Even he had been upset by Bruce's departure, despite how much he hated to admit it.

Steve was rambling on about what they were going to do next, even considering retiring. Eventually, Dave got tired of having this conversation.

"Look, why the fuck should we give up just 'cause he is?"

Steve looked at him, surprised. It wasn't like Dave to curse so casually. "You mean...look for another singer?"

Janick raised his head when he heard this, a worried look in his greyish-blue eyes. 

"Davey's right," Nicko said while looking down at his own beer. "We shouldn't be givin' up just 'cause Bruce is. We should look for another singer, and start workin' on another album. We ain't dead yet!"

Janick's eyes widened in panick. "But..."

Dave noticed Janick's worried expression, and reached out to squeeze his hand. "It's going to be okay..."

Steve thought the notion through, and sighed. "Fine. I'll call Rod, and let 'im know."

He left the living room to make a call on the house phone, and Janick's eyes met Dave's.

"What are we going to do without Bruce?" he demanded, not caring about how emotional or worried he sounded.

Dave squeezed his hand, but that did little to calm Janick down. "It's all going to work out, okay?"

Word got out quickly that Iron Maiden were searching for a new singer, and mountains of tapes were being sent in by hopeful fans and other singers. The band spent days upon weeks in the studio with their manager, listening to tape after tape, trying their best to narrow down the candidates.

After eventually narrowing the candidates down to twelve singers who would have been able to sing Bruce's parts perfectly, Steve entered the studio announcing that he had found their next vocalist.

The rest of the band stared at him in surprise, because who he had chosen had not even sent a tape in the first place. And while he was in fact a great singer, his style of singing was drastically different than that of Bruce's.

He had chosen Blaze Bayley. 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[thefairywithboots]

Fates Warning - Chapter 9

Summary: Now that not even Janick is exempt from Bruce's coldness, Bruce begins separating himself from the rest of the band. When Bruce kicks Janick out of their room for a second time, Janick stops bunking with him altogether, giving him and Dave the opportunity to bond with each other.

Also on AO3

Bruce began distancing himself from the entire band ever since his and Janick's falling out. When he saw Janick leaving Dave's room the next morning, Janick knew by the look on his face that he automatically assumed the worst. He had cornered Janick when no one else was around.

"What did you do in Dave's room last night?" Bruce demanded.

Janick knew that no matter what he said, it wasn't going to be enough. "I slept..."

"That's not all that you did!" Bruce said in an accusatory tone.

"Yes, it is..." Janick said in a small voice.

"Bullshit! Stop lying to me!"

Janick felt tears burn in his eyes. "Where did you expect me to go, Bruce? You shut me out..."

"Well, I guess that just says a lot about our relationship if you're going to run to Davey every time things get rough!"

Janick couldn't believe the mental gymnastics Bruce would go through to try and pin all the blame on him. "You locked me out of the room! What the hell was I supposed to do, sleep out in the hallway!?"

Bruce seemed infuriated that Janick would have the audacity to raise his voice at him. He hardly spoke to him throughout the course of the next two weeks and Janick felt as if he was surrounded by a biting cold every time they were in a room alone together.

The European leg of the tour started, and Steve and Bruce would often get into full-on screaming matches in the lobby of hotels, not seeming to care that bystanders overheard them. Rod ended up confronting the two, telling them that they were going to end up getting the band kicked out of hotels if they didn't get it under control.

Steve was disappointed by Bruce's performances as of late. He seemed to be deliberately singing without any passion or conviction - that was, unless the press was there. It was pathetic, Steve told him. It was one thing for him to be mad at Steve, but their fans deserved better.

Bruce looked at Janick during one argument as if he expected him to defend him. But Janick strayed off to the side with Dave, who did his best to avoid confrontation whenever possible. Bruce was furious - whether it was for the fact that Janick wouldn't back him up, or if it was for interacting with Dave, Janick didn't know. But when Janick approached their room that night, his luggage and guitar case had been thrown out into the hallway.

He stood there in shock for a moment before he approached the door, and knocked hard on it.

"Bruce? Open the door!" he called, in which he was abruptly answered by Bruce's muffled voice behind the door, telling him to "piss off!"

Janick stared down at his bags, tears burning in his eyes.

After that incident, Janick stopped roofing with Bruce altogether.

Dave had no problem with letting Janick stay with him from then on. Being in Dave's room felt like he was being thawed out from the weeks of being in the icy domain that was his and Bruce's relationship.

Dave was patient and didn't judge him for crying after everything that Bruce had put him through. But Jan could not stop himself from feeling like a burden. He felt so weak and pathetic while crying on the couch with his knees drawn up to his chest.

"Jan...?" Dave asked softly, while gently reaching to touch his shoulder.

Janick wiped his tears away. "I'm sorry..."

"No, don't apologise," he said. "I was just wondering if you wanted to go down to the bar...to get something to drink?"

Janick sniffed, and nodded. Was he really going to attempt drink his heartache away?

"It's going to be okay..." Dave told him him while reaching for his hand. Dave's fingers were strong and callused from years of playing guitar, but yet, they still somehow felt soft...

The two of them made their way down to the hotel bar. It was crowded tonight, and Janick wasn't really in the mood to be bombarded with fans, despite how much he appreciated them. Nicko was already down there, chatting with the bartender, a young woman who appeared extremely happy to be serving the drummer.

He noticed Dave and Janick immediately and waved them over. "Davey! Jan! 'Ow you two blokes doin', eh!?" When he realised that Bruce wouldn't be joining them, Nicko appeared to glow even brighter. "This 'ere's Julie, she said she'd be serving us tonight!"

The bartender seemed to recognise them immediately as she smiled excitedly.

"Get us two more beers, please?" He turned back to Dave and Janick. "'Arry's going to be joinin' us 'ere in a few. 'E's gonna be needin' a few beers, the stress 'e's been under..."

If only he knew... Janick thought to himself. Julie came back with the beers, and set them down in front of him and Dave. Janick smiled gratefully.

"Thank you very much, love!" Nicko said in which the bartender giggled in response. Janick sipped his own beer. If he had not known for himself that Nicko was gay, he would have thought he was flirting with the woman.

Steve entered the bar a few minutes later, but he didn't come alone. Janick felt a weight in the pit of his stomach, fearful that it might be Bruce that was with him.

But it wasn't. Janick recognised him as Blaze, the singer from the band that toured with them on their No Prayer on the Road tour.

"Oh, 'ello, Dave. Janick. You 'member Blaze, don't you?"

"Of course," Dave said while reaching his hand out for Blaze to shake, which he shook with a large grin.

"It's good to see you guys again!" Blaze said, obviously very happy to be there.

Steve looked around Janick's shoulder. "Bruce didn't come with you?"

Janick shook his head, feeling like a fresh wound had been opened up for him.

None of them had been expecting Steve to bring Blaze back with him - they had not seen him since the end of the No Prayer on the Road tour - but apparently Blaze had come to see them on this leg of the tour after Wolfsbane had finished their own tour. Nevertheless, the bartender happily served them two more beers.

Steve took his as if it was some sort of elixir that he needed in order to keep alive, downing half of it it one long gulp.

They spent the evening getting pleasantly buzzed; Blaze was a surprisingly nice bloke. It was easy for Jan to see why Steve had grown a friendship with him.

The atmosphere was different than it had been in many months; Bruce was not there to try and pick some useless fight with Steve. The five of them were actually laughing among themselves. Janick felt like it had been ages since he had even seen Steve smile...

After a few hours of drinking together, Steve had become so pissed, he could hardly hold himself upright. He was leaning against Nicko with one arm draped over his neck, giggling hysterically at something he had said.

"So, where's Bruce?" Blaze asked casually while the bartender brought him another beer. Janick saw Nicko roll his eyes at this question, and knew that he genuinely did not give a shit where Bruce was tonight.

Janick shrugged, staring down at his empty pint. "I don't know..."

The sombre look on Janick's face made Blaze look at him curiously. He apparently didn't know that they had been dating each other, and Janick wasn't really in the mood to explain that to him. And besides, he was fairly certain their relationship was over now. After being thrown out of his sleeping quarters twice, he didn't even want to go back to him.

"'Arry, STOP!" Nicko yelled, and Steve fell to the floor while laughing hysterically. Nicko wiped at the inside of his ear with a napkin, his face red with embarrassment. Blaze held back his laughter as he realised that Steve had tried to stick his tongue in Nicko's ear. "It ain't funny!" Nicko snapped, though he couldn't stop himself from smirking.

Nicko helped Steve up off the floor, and announced that he was going to carry Steve back to their room because he was too drunk to walk back himself. Blaze offered to help him, and he and Nicko led Steve out of the bar and towards the lifts in the lobby. Dave and Janick were left alone in the bar together.

Dave smiled, taking Blaze's abandoned pint of beer and emptying it into his own.

After finishing their beers, they made their way back upstairs in silence. Janick felt pleasantly buzzed from the beer, but luckily neither him nor Dave had to carry each other.

When they got to the fourth floor, they passed by Bruce's room, and for a brief moment, Janick felt a sense of loss, as if he wanted to reach out and attempt to get back in. But he knew that he didn't want to, that being with Bruce would be nothing short of being in an icy domain where he had to watch everything that he said or did for the fear of being yelled at. He held back his tears as he followed Dave back to his room, and he unlocked his door.

They both went inside. When Janick glanced at the clock on the microwave, he realised that it was earlier than he had  thought it was. The beer had calmed him down, but he was still upset after passing Bruce's room. Dave picked his guitar up, and suggested that they work on some riffs together, which relieved Janick because that meant that he could take his mind off of things.

Janick sat down on the sofa, opening his guitar case and pulling out his old beaten up black Fender strat that Ian had given him twelve years prior. Dave sat next to him with his own strat, and the two of them worked on riffs and guitar harmonies together. They both played together while unplugged, though Jan wanted to plug his amp up to hear his mistakes better, but knew that was not a good idea at this hour.

The melodies that they created felt haunting to Jan, and he suddenly felt a warmth in his heart that he had not felt in such a long time. He felt a sort of kinship with Dave that he hadn't felt with Bruce in such a long time. Sure, he had felt this way with Bruce when they first started dating, but now all he felt when he was with Bruce was fear of having his every flaw picked apart and used against him. And somehow, he knew that Dave would never do those things to him.

Dave would never do those things to anybody.

Dave stopped playing to scribble some chord progressions down in his notebook, and Janick watched him as if only just now noticing how beautiful he was. His long blond hair hung past his shoulders, giving him an angelic look.

Janick averted his eyes, a feeling of guilt creeping onto him. He couldn't be developing feelings for Dave...that was impossible. He still loved Bruce even though it was obvious that Bruce's love for him was conditional.

But he knew that was a lie. He had tried to fight it for the past year now because he tried so hard to make things work with Bruce. But Janick had felt something for Dave ever since they had spent those months together in Hawaii. He had known this when he didn't want to leave the island, didn't even want to leave the car to face Bruce. He had felt a warmth in the way he had held him that felt much stronger than just mere friendship. A warmth that he had wanted to feel with Bruce, but he knew deep down that he would never be able to.

Janick remembered the embrace that Dave had shared with Adrian in the hotel dining room on the day that Adrian had flown out, and he suddenly felt as if he were trespassing; as if he did not belong there. He knew that Adrian was irreplaceable to Dave; he meant as much to him as Bruce did to Janick.

Except it wasn't comparable, Janick thought. Adrian's problem was his creative differences with Steve. He didn't ghost the entire band or make Dave feel like he had done something to make him want to leave. He and Dave were still friends.

What Bruce was doing to him was borderline emotional abuse, he realised with a sense of horror.

He felt so alone in that moment, despite Dave sitting right next to him. He felt a sudden urge to cry himself to sleep, and he set his guitar gently back into its case.

Dave looked up at him from his notebook. He smiled, and Janick felt his heart ache like it never had before. Why did he have to have such a beautiful, pure smile?

"You tired?" he asked while closing his notebook.

Janick nodded, keeping his head down. Dave put his own guitar back into its case, shutting it closed.

Janick didn't know what pushed him to do it - it seemed to be an impulsive action that didn't require much thought... But when Dave rose back up, he leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

Dave froze in shock for a moment, and Jan thought for certain that he was going to punch him in the face for it. Jan felt his face turn red.

"I-I'm sorry...!" Janick stammered.

But Dave leaned in and kissed him back, bringing his hands up to his face. Janick closed his eyes. Dave's lips were soft, and the kiss was gentle and warm. Jan felt the warmth in his heart grow even more as he wrapped his arms around Dave.

When the kiss finally broke, Jan rested his forehead against Dave's. Dave smiled at him, reaching up to stroke his cheek, gently wiping away tears that he was unaware that he had shed.

"Davey..." His voice came out broken.

"Shh..." Dave whispered softly, kissing him softly on the cheek. "It's okay..."

"I-I love you..."

Dave wrapped his arms around Janick, holding him close to him. "Jan...I've loved you since we spent those months together in Hawaii."

Janick hugged him back, not wanting to let him go. "Y-you have...? But...I thought you still loved Adrian...?"

Dave buried his face in Janick's hair and shook his head. "No... I mean, I still love Adrian as my best friend. But we've moved on in the past three years. Seeing him back in August only reassured us both that there weren't any hard feelings between us."

Janick sniffed, and held Dave closer. He felt his face scrunch up as Dave pressed his lips to his forehead.

"And..." Dave's voice broke as if he were about to cry. "I hated seeing what Bruce was doing to you. I saw what he was doing, but I couldn't say anything because you seemed so in love with him..."

Janick buried his face in Dave's chest. Being held by him was like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

He didn't want to go back to Bruce. He hadn't felt the same kind of warmth he had with Bruce ever since he had smugly announced to the whole band that he had only got with Jan in an attempt to make Steve jealous. It didn't matter how hard he tried, he was never able to get over that. Janick meant nothing to him, and it took him two years for him to accept this.

He never wanted to leave Dave's arms, but the warmth eventually beckoned him into a doze. Dave took his hand, and led him toward the bed. Janick didn't object; he followed him sleepily as they laid down next to each other, and Dave pulled the covers over them both.

Dave kissed him softly on the lips, and Janick closed his eyes, savoring the kiss for as long as he could.

"G'night, Jan..." Dave whispered softly before reaching over to turn the lights off. He continued to hold him close, stroking his hair softly as Jan laid his head on his chest, the steady sound of his heartbeat lulling him into a peaceful, contentful sleep that he had not had in such a long time.

~~

The band had to leave for the airport the next morning, so Dave and Janick woke up early, feeling refreshed. After packing up their luggage and guitars, they made their way to the lifts, holding hands while waiting for it to come to their floor.

Dave smiled at Janick, feeling as if he was finally safe with him now. He felt as if he could protect him now that they both knew that they loved each other. He looked so beautiful this morning, despite his hair being a mess.

Janick blushed when he caught Dave staring at him, and Dave leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. Janick turned around and kissed his lips, and Dave returned the kiss, bringing his hands gently to his face to pull him closer.

The door to the lifts opened at that moment, and they both jumped apart, half expecting Steve, Nicko, or Rod to step out, and they would end up having to explain themselves.

Except it wasn't either of them. Bruce stood there with an expression mixed with shock and rage. Dave felt his heart drop in his stomach, and Bruce's face turned so red, Dave swore that he saw a vein bulge on the side of his head. He looked between Dave and Janick, and Janick's blue eyes turned wide with fear. Bruce looked as if he were ready to attack one of them, and Dave felt an urge to stand in front of Jan to protect him. Dave had never felt so angry at someone who was supposed to be his friend.

But it didn't come to that. Dave and Janick stood there awkwardly, and Bruce exited the lift, shoving past both of them so hard, Dave rubbed his arm from where he had hit them.

A few hours later, as they boarded the plane, Bruce didn't say a word to anyone. But it was obvious that it was Janick and Dave he was the most angry at; he refused to so much as look their way. He glared out the window, almost sulking.

The rest of them took their seats, and Janick and Dave sat next to each other, holding hands as they waited for the plane to take off. They both had expected this kind of reaction from Bruce, but Dave felt relieved that he could finally be there for Janick, and assure him that he did not have to go through this alone anymore.